A Study of the Diversity and Abundance of Dipteran Families in Different Environments in the Val Piora, Switzerland
Primary Faculty Mentor’s Name
William Irby
Proposal Track
Student
Session Format
Poster
Abstract
In this presentation, the effects of different altitude and environmental factors on diversity and abundance of flies was studied in the Val Piora, Switzerland, during the Georgia Southern University Biology Department sponsored Switzerland Study Abroad Program. The Swiss Alpine summer is a time of massive insect population growth. Due to this growth, a wide variety of ecological niches are available for the immense number of different insects to occupy. Insects of the order Diptera take advantage of the variety of ecological niches that exist; however, the families of Diptera are often found in different ecological niches. We hypothesized: 1) A greater abundance of Diptera would be found on the south side of the River Murinascia; 2) A greater diversity of Diptera would be found at the lowest elevations; 3) Afternoon collections would yield greater abundance of Diptera.
The study was composed of six total collection sites, three on the north side of the River Murinascia and three on the south side. Each side was broken into three sites by varying elevation and vegetation by approximately twenty meters (~1940 m, ~1960 m, ~1980 m). Randomly, each site was collected once in the morning and once in the afternoon for two days. Temperature and approximate cloud cover was determined each morning and afternoon at the beginning of the collection period. A sweep-netting procedure was used to collect samples with 20 sweeps performed at every site within a range of approximately ten meters. The samples were placed into labeled plastic bags and placed in the freezer in order to prepare the samples for identification.
After two days, the identification of the samples began and lasted for the remaining duration of the program. Over 900 samples were obtained and identified; the samples represented over 35 Diptera families, including Drosophilidae, Empididae, Sciaridae, Phoridae, and Sepsidae. By using chi-square analysis, it was shown that the South side of the lake had a higher abundance. Also by using chi-square analysis, the middle elevations demonstrated the highest diversity of the sites. Our first hypothesis was supported in that the abundance of Diptera would be greatest on the south side of the River Murinascia. Our third hypothesis was also supported; a greater abundance of Diptera was collected in the afternoons versus the morning collections. However, our second hypothesis was rejected. A greater diversity of Diptera was found at middle elevations instead of the lowest elevations.
Keywords
Diptera, Switzerland, Alpine, Insects, Diversity, Study abroad
Location
Concourse/Atrium
Presentation Year
2014
Start Date
11-15-2014 2:55 PM
End Date
11-15-2014 4:10 PM
Publication Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Recommended Citation
Allen, Daniel L. Jr. and Luoma, Rachel L., "A Study of the Diversity and Abundance of Dipteran Families in Different Environments in the Val Piora, Switzerland" (2014). Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference (2014-2015). 120.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gurc/2014/2014/120
A Study of the Diversity and Abundance of Dipteran Families in Different Environments in the Val Piora, Switzerland
Concourse/Atrium
In this presentation, the effects of different altitude and environmental factors on diversity and abundance of flies was studied in the Val Piora, Switzerland, during the Georgia Southern University Biology Department sponsored Switzerland Study Abroad Program. The Swiss Alpine summer is a time of massive insect population growth. Due to this growth, a wide variety of ecological niches are available for the immense number of different insects to occupy. Insects of the order Diptera take advantage of the variety of ecological niches that exist; however, the families of Diptera are often found in different ecological niches. We hypothesized: 1) A greater abundance of Diptera would be found on the south side of the River Murinascia; 2) A greater diversity of Diptera would be found at the lowest elevations; 3) Afternoon collections would yield greater abundance of Diptera.
The study was composed of six total collection sites, three on the north side of the River Murinascia and three on the south side. Each side was broken into three sites by varying elevation and vegetation by approximately twenty meters (~1940 m, ~1960 m, ~1980 m). Randomly, each site was collected once in the morning and once in the afternoon for two days. Temperature and approximate cloud cover was determined each morning and afternoon at the beginning of the collection period. A sweep-netting procedure was used to collect samples with 20 sweeps performed at every site within a range of approximately ten meters. The samples were placed into labeled plastic bags and placed in the freezer in order to prepare the samples for identification.
After two days, the identification of the samples began and lasted for the remaining duration of the program. Over 900 samples were obtained and identified; the samples represented over 35 Diptera families, including Drosophilidae, Empididae, Sciaridae, Phoridae, and Sepsidae. By using chi-square analysis, it was shown that the South side of the lake had a higher abundance. Also by using chi-square analysis, the middle elevations demonstrated the highest diversity of the sites. Our first hypothesis was supported in that the abundance of Diptera would be greatest on the south side of the River Murinascia. Our third hypothesis was also supported; a greater abundance of Diptera was collected in the afternoons versus the morning collections. However, our second hypothesis was rejected. A greater diversity of Diptera was found at middle elevations instead of the lowest elevations.
